Preservation Smart - The Asa Russell Home in Lowell, MA circa 1880

With each act of preservation, we bring hope and brightness to these homes, to the past, and save the culture from where we came. With each act of preservation, we become “preservation smart.”

PRESERVATION SMART
For only the second time in 150 years, the ASA RUSSELL home is for sale. Circa 1880, this grand dame in Lowell Massachusetts boast 5,186 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, two baths and a lot of over 30,000 square feet. The carriage house still exists on the property. Offered for $399,000 by Keller Williams Realty, you may contact the listing broker, Jane Kontoff at 978-759-0231 for more information or to help save this grand home. Imagine if the home were a non-profit museum, hosting afternoon tea, and open for the public to enjoy?! Imagine saving such a wonderful piece of history!

Please do stop back weekly to view the property of the week. You can set us up as an RSS feed, and simple stop by weekly. You can help in our efforts to acquire Oak View and other fine homes like the properties highlighted in “Preservation Smart.” Your donation, no matter how large or how small, helps in our efforts.

OVPI is a 501(c)(3) historic preservation organization operating as a public charity. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You can visit our web site for more information about OVPI and about our efforts.

OVPI continues to need funds as we work to secure the future of Oak View and other properties through acquisition, preservation and sharing with the general public. We are deeply thankful to those of you who have already stepped forward to support us. If you have yet to join our efforts to save these jewels of history and culture, we hope you will consider making a donation today. Thank you for being “preservation smart.”

With gratitude and best wishes

Letter to Owners: Bargain Sale of Real Estate helps at Tax Time

We would like to propose a "bargain sale" for any property that is owned outright and unemcumbered.

OakView Preservation Incorporated is a non profit, 501(c)(3) determined public charity organized for historic preservation.
We propose a sale price of $100.00 ( one hundred dollars ). As a bargain sale, the owner takes the difference from the appraised value and the purchase price as a tax deduction which can be spread over five years. A good link for info (although this is geared toward land bargain sale, the intent is the same: http://www.massland.org/pages/resources/bargain%20sales.htm).

The seller sells their property to a Public Charity (OVPI) for the bargain sale price, and can take the remainder (difference from sale price and appraisal amount) as a tax deduction which can be spread over five years if the tax deduction is larger than the tax burden in one year.

We want to help the community stop the declination of the community and housing stock, in addition to working towards historic preservation. We would use a donated location for an Art and Culture Center and for fundraising while keeping spaces for rent at a discounted rate if any spaces are available for rent. This is a way for the seller to make an immediate, positive impact in the community. This may also be a way for the seller to avoid additional taxes and remove the property from their taxable estate (The seller should consult their Tax Adviser for specifics on savings including the possibility of lower estate taxes, capital gains taxes, etc.) We would be pleased to retain the name of the owners on the building and to name the Art and Culture center after them if they wish.

We look forward to hearing that you will consider our offer for a bargain sale for historic preservation and to help the community. For more information or to get started, please contact OVPI.

Kind regards,
~Brad~
Brad McCracken
CEO and co-founder
OakView Preservation Incorporated (OVPI)
m 508-631-3953
f and vm 1-866-760-2286
e brad@ovpi.org
visit us on the web at www.ovpi.org

IRS Updates Guide for Donations - Tax Deductions

We are pleased to make available IR 2009-114, the IRS' guide for charitable donations. Last year we made this available and proved a nice resource for everyone. This year, we are happy to provide the link again to the updated version for tax year 2009. Just click here.

Please visit our web site http://www.ovpi.org and help us as we raise funds to acquire and preserve the historic mansion in Norwood, MA known as Oak View.

Thank you!

Preservation Smart will return January 4, 2010

Thanks for all the support. The weekly "Preseration Smart" section will return right after the new year. Until then , please visit older posts on the Blog, and tell others about OVPI.

Thanks and Happy Holidays from the Board of Directors and all who are OVPI!

Donate Your House to Charity? What you have to gain

As the donor of a house or property, you will enjoy great benefits as well. A House donation is an excellent solution for people who want to increase their charitable donations and for those who are saddled with financially burdensome properties.

When you donate a house to charity, you help yourself become free from costly and unprofitable properties (this can be an inherited property, a real estate investment that has failed to deliver, or a home that is complicating plans for relocation…)

Gain large tax credits that can reduce taxes for years to come
Avoid brokerage fees paid to real estate brokers/agents/professionals
A Charitable house donation is a winning situation all around.

A charity house donation will allow you to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with philanthropic giving and the peace of mind of securing a meaningful tax donation while freeing yourself from a financially hindering property holding.

Want to get started or get more information? Contact us at OVPI.

Preservation Smart - Winter Street in Norwood, MA circa 1890

With each act of preservation, we bring hope and brightness to these homes, to the past, and save the culture from where we came. With each act of preservation, we become “preservation smart.”

PRESERVATION SMART

A home-town glory! Located on historic Winter Street in Norwood, MA is this 1890 home on the market for the first time in many years. With only a hand full of owners of it’s life, this home boasts three staircases, 11 rooms, 5 bedrooms and 4 baths. The house is sited on a little over a quarter acre. If ever a home needed a new caretaker to preserve the history and architecture, this fine home is one that qualifies. Offered for $749,500 by Prudential Page Realty. You may contact the listing agent, Ellen RAO at 800-878-2331.

Please do stop back weekly to view the property of the week. You can set us up as an RSS feed, and simple stop by weekly. You can help in our efforts to acquire Oak View and other fine homes like the properties highlighted in “Preservation Smart.” Your donation, no matter how large or how small, helps in our efforts.

OVPI is a 501(c)(3) historic preservation organization operating as a public charity. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You can visit our web site for more information about OVPI and about our efforts.

OVPI continues to need funds as we work to secure the future of Oak View and other properties through acquisition, preservation and sharing with the general public. We appreciate that these are very difficult times financially and we are deeply thankful to those of you who have already stepped forward to support us. If you have yet to join our efforts to save these jewels of history and culture, we hope you will consider making a donation today. Thank you for being “preservation smart.”

With gratitude and best wishes

HOPE is the Gift you Share: What a Preservationist sees and feels

It takes hope.

When you look at an old building, sometimes abandoned, left for years, ignored by generations of caretakers, you may see the siding cracking, the roof which started leaking some time ago and the overall disrepair.When we look at the same building, we see the history that built that structure, we hear the sounds of the voices that laughed through the halls during the holidays, cried through the rooms during grief, and called the old building home or work for years.

It takes a considerable amount of hope to hear the voices from the past – to hear the building begging once again to come alive.Being part of a historic preservation organization and public charity is, rather than just raising funds, it is raising friends.

All of you, our friends, have the hope and courage to take on a project of acquisition, preservation, renovation, and cultivation. You not only adopt a non-profit…you adopt a building. Of course there is solicitation and asking for gifts. We have the hope inside of us to ask so we could, with your help, create a presence.

We are creating a presence of mind in knowing we can succeed and preserve whatever building is in front of us. We are creating a physical presence as we renovate the buildings and throw open their doors saying aloud once again…..THIS BUILDING IS OPEN AND READY TO BE SHARED AND ENJOYED! It takes that kind of hope, strength and courage to create the presence.As we work together, we can visualize the halls again filled with voices of joy.

In a corner or two, there are sobs of sadness that were carried in from the streets. We comfort the sad: we visualize their life. We share the building and lead those who visit through each room proudly revealing the work we have done. We are visualizing our hope that we had that allowed us to take the first step in donation…acquisition….renovation.

Our work will change our lives. We will gain strength from saving the building. The result will be an Art and Culture Center for each child, each adult, each passing person to enjoy: or, a non-profit museum that will assist in not merely maintaining the building, but it improving the building in perpetuity.

We will create this together.

It is practically irresistible when you look at the old buildings the way a preservationist looks at them. You want to help! You have no choice! You begin to see the children playing in the front parlor. You begin to see the result of each penny raised and of each stroke of an arm that stripped wallpaper, painted a wall, sanded floors, repaired the 150 year old glazing on the window. You see it all as sharing it with your friends, your children, and their children for years and years to come.

The gift you give is the solution. You are the solution. And you have the hope and courage. Your gift of time, money, or endowment, will move us closer to acquisition, preservation, renovation and sharing with all of the public, including your family, friends and children. Your gift is the solution.

Your hope you share is the gift!

Please help us and donate today. OakView Preservation Incorporated, 140 Railroad Ave STE B406, Norwood, MA 02062. Or log on to www.ovpi.org and donate securely. Or call, 508-631-3953 or toll free, 1-866-760-2286.

Thank you.